MEDFORD, Ore. (AP) — A microscopic bug that’s now been found in far southern Oregon is giving defenders hope in their battle against Scotch broom, one of the toughest invasive species in Oregon.
The irony is that the bug is like the Scotch broom bush — a native of Europe.
The plant was brought by settlers and has been sold as an ornamental and soil-stabilizing plant. But its ability to produce nitrogen for itself in low-nitrogen soils gives it a big advantage over native plants, especially in disturbed areas.
The Medford Mail Tribune (http://bit.ly/H8ISA3 ) reports the tiny gall mite attacks the plant’s buds. It can stop reproduction and even kill the plants.
